Smuggled turtles returned to the Philippines
Shirley Escalante
Last Updated:
18 smuggled fresh water turtles have been returned to the Philippines from Hong Kong.
The critically endangered Philippines Pond Turtles were smuggled from the province of Palawan earlier this year.
Officials in Hong Kong seized them in February.
One Hong Kong national has reportedly been charged over the haul.
Authorities in Manila say they are attempting to trace those in the Philippines who may have helped to harvest and smuggle the turtles.
The smuggled turtles have been handed to a Philippines environmental group, which will return the animals to their natural habitat.
Environment officials say the species is critically endangered, with only about one hundred in existence.
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